Seven on trial over murder of former Kabete MP George Muchai
The seven suspects accused of the murder of former Kabete MP George Muchai, his two bodyguards and driver in February 2015 when they appeared in court in March 2015. The State has lined up four key prosecution witnesses in the trial against the seven which starts on Monday November 23, 2015. FILE PHOTO | PAUL WAWERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The witnesses include two sisters who were carjacked shortly before the killings and who are “eyewitnesses” in the prosecution’s list.
- The suspects face two different capital offences before two courts in Nairobi arising out of the gangland style killing of the trade unionist-cum-politician.
- In a magistrate’s court, they also face multiple robbery charges in which the two sisters are complainants, having been allegedly carjacked and are eye witnesses of the killing.
- A lone gunman shot Mr Muchai, who, prior to the incident, had said his life was in danger.
The State has lined up four key prosecution witnesses in a case in which seven suspects face trial for the murder of former Kabete MP George Muchai.
Mr Muchai, his two bodyguards and driver were killed aides in Nairobi early this year.
The witnesses include two sisters who were carjacked shortly before the killings and who are “eyewitnesses” in the prosecution’s list.
Another witness is a taxi driver who was called after the fatal shooting and who was “warned not to disclose what he had seen or heard or else he would be killed in the next two days.”
The prosecution also has an “unnamed” witness” who was in contact with the accused persons and who revealed that while in their company, they warned him against mentioning what he had seen and heard and if he did so they would kill him.”
The suspects face two different capital offences before two courts in Nairobi arising out of the gangland style killing of the trade unionist-cum-politician.
Eric Isabwa alias Chairman, Raphael Kimani alias Kim Butcheri, Mustapha Kimani alias Musto, Stephen Astiva alias Chokore, Jane Wanjiru alias Shiro, Margaret Njeri and Simon Wambugu have denied the four charges of murder at the High.
ROBBERY CHARGES
In a magistrate’s court, they also face multiple robbery charges in which the two sisters are complainants, having been allegedly carjacked and are eye witnesses of the killing.
If found guilty, the suspects could be sentenced to hang “twice” since each of the two separate capital offences attracts the death penalty.
The seven suspects were charged before Lady Justice Lessit with four counts of murder.
The charges state that on the night of February 7, 2015 along Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi, they murdered Mr Muchai, his two bodyguards Samuel Kimathi Kailikia and Samuel Lekakeny Matanta, and his driver Stephen Ituu Wambugu.
At the magistrate’s court, the suspects face ten counts of robbery with violence on the same night they allegedly killed the MP.
A lone gunman shot Mr Muchai, who, prior to the incident, had said his life was in danger.
The gunman reportedly stepped out of a car which had brushed Mr Muchai's at around 3am on February 7, 2015 at the Nyayo House round-about within the CBD as the MP was being driven home from a family gathering at Galileo's restaurant in Westlands, Nairobi.
Police reports stated that the gunman motioned two other accomplices from their getaway car who then stole the bodyguards’ pistols and a briefcase before speeding off.
The getaway car had been robbed from Ms Glady’s Waithera and her sister Irene Muthoni.
The two have since testified in the robbery case.
